Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-02

nun ERS OF THE SHANDAhEN.
NEW PALTz, n. Y, March 10. (Spec-
ial. )-Perhaps no spot is so noted in the
State foi the hunting of bears and smaller
animals as is the neighborhood of Shan
dakeD. Ulster county. With the excep-
ton Of the few small settlements the ter
ritory is one wilderness of mountain and
timber land. There are many backwoods-
men who gain their living by fishing for
trout and other fish in the summer and hunt
ing and trapping in the winter. In severe
winters the snow is deep on he mountains
and in the ravines and notches. In the
latter place it remains far into the spring.
At the present time the snow in many
places is from TWO to five feet deep. There
are many wild and picturesque spots in
the town of Shandaken, among them the
notch in Deep Hollow, the Hunter Notch,
DEVILS Glen, We,tkill Glove and Big In
dian Hollow. The mountains that run up
along Deep Hollow are from $500 t. g.
800 leet high, and are the winter home of
bears. These mountains are very steep
and abound in rocky lodges, under nearly
all Of which can be found deep holes or
caves. In past years larger bears have
been killed than of late, although. instead
of becoming extinct among the Catskills,
bears are more numerous now than ever
before.
In the coolest weather bears usually
house the mselves in small caves or open
ings, under the lodges of rocks, where it
is dry: but " hen the winter is over they
come out and are easily tracked over the
light snow. They usually select the south.
erly face of "a mountain for their dens. 1t
is believed that they eat nothing while
housed up, but lie rolled in a heap. They
remain in that condition tle greater part
of the winter, unleSs aroused by dogs
who scent them out. Dogs are th9ir nat
ural enemies. Bears pay but little atten-
ton to the loud yelping of the dogs, but
put on a bold front. Few experienced
dogs are foolish enough to go beyond the
mouth of cave, for iull-grown bear can
ward off halt dozen good dogs with the
greatest ease. At sight Of man, however,
bears become uneasy and try to escape.
A. a general rule they never fight man
unless forced into it. When they have
cubs aud are followed closely, they keep
the young ahead and follow close
in the rear to protect them. If pushed
closely they make great show of fight,
growl and tear the bark from the tree with
much noise, and do their utmost to fright
en- off the enemy. Then, if there is no
help for it. they fight fercely when brought
to bay. Bears, when known to be with
young, are let alone unless the hunters are
well armed for a fight. Trained dogs
greatly assist the huuters and do much
toward checking the speed of the bear.
Now and then they nab bruin by hind
leg, which worries him greatly. After a
dog has trackt d Il bear once, however, he
knows enough to keep out of reach OF his
paws.
Hunters are often given long and
weary chase over the mountains and
through the valleys ten, fifteen and even
twenty miles. generally in the toughest
places; for the bear. when he finds that he
is tracked, will pick out the most tangled
places he can reach, going down in deep
ravines, where the brush and briars are
SO thick that they will tear the clothing
OF the hunters. The articles necessary
for the OUTFIT of a bear hunter are few and
simple. A good dog and hreech- load
ing double barrelled shot gun heavy
boots, coarse and thick trousers. and short
coat. and a belt with apartments tor
cartridges and pistol, prepare the hunter
for his sport. When the snow is deep
the chase will be tedious. but if there is
ouly a light fall the buntsman can keep
up dog trot tor some distance Care
must be taken when nearing bruin that
he does not scent the hunter If the
hunter can get within easy shooting dis
lance on good ground the bear becomes
an easy victim.
Sometimes it is easier and more profta
BILE to trap bears than to hunt them with
powder and ball. The log trap, which
captures the bear alive. and the heavy
steel trap. with hook or log attachment,
are reported as the best. When bear
finds himself in steel trap he usually
makes for a ledge OF rocks, and then tries
to break the trap by Shaping it down
with all his might. and as they generally
have great strength it taxes a good trap to
stand it. When the bear finds that he
cannot get rid OF the trap he tries to get
away, but. of course. is easily followed.
as the trap with the attachment forces him
to travel very slowly. Some hunters say
that when a bear gets his foot in trap
and finds he cannot get rid of it he will
actually chew eff the leg. leaving part of
il in a trap. When a Shandaken hunter
wants to capture a bear alive he uses the
log trap and bats it with sleeps head,
well roasted. which will tempt bear in-
to almost any place.